Next Generation Dell Precision Mobile Workstations press release

I confirmed that loading BIOS settings back to default or factory does not render the dGPU undetectable. Furthermore, after changing to fastboot minimal, you can change it back to thorough or auto and the dGPU works without any issues. It appears that it simply needed fastboot to be toggled on and a clean boot , and then afterwards you can choose any setting you'd like.

 

Hi everyone,

I have some money burning a hole in my pocket, but I am hoping someone can bring me down to earth.

My current Dell Precision m4800 laptop is perfect for what I currently use it for, I've already upgraded the SSD in it 2 times over the past 2-years. BUT, i'm drooling over the new Precision m7510. should I go for it now while there is a 40% coupon available or wait till the end of the year, when it will (maybe) be cheaper?


Thanks

 

Hi Phillip,

I'd never let money do that to my pockets!

Seriously though, I can't answer your question since I've never owned a DELL product but I did a fair bit of research and decided on the DELL Precision.
So now I've got a DELL 7510 on order - ETA: Mar.28/2016 ... I cancelled a DELL 3510 and a 7510 order previously because I made configuration changes.
BTW - No problems with cancellations in either case - It was quick and easy as long as order hasn't shipped.

I got 35% deal so in your case, maybe stop drooling already.

 

I'm stepping through each of the pre-installed DELL software programs (I have factory Dell installed Win10), launching one at a time... checking if I want to uninstall or to keep. It was during this that I get my first BSOD on this laptop

So far I've not uninstalled any of these Dell programs, just taking inventory

Dell Precision Optimizer - keeping it
Dell Premier Color - keeping it
Dell Register - uninstalling it
Dell Command Update - uninstalling it
Dell Support (diagnostic tool) - I launch this and each time I consistently get a BSOD (bad_pool_header) - uninstalling it
Dell Digital Delivery - uninstalling it

In addition here is a list of DELL services they've setup to start automatically.
I'm weighing if I should do a clean install. I'd have to reinstall my programs and setup everything again, but that only takes about a day. I'd probably have to download MS Win10 Media Creation tool, right? I'd leave my BIOS as it is (RAID, UEFI, Legacy disabled, etc). I was hoping I could avoid all of this but seeing those services are running automatically gives me the creeps. I'm disabling or setting them to manual start up instead of automatic until I figure out what I want to do.

*screw it, I'm uninstalling all of them and I'll check that their connected services are also removed. If I see any other weird stuff or BSOD then I will fresh install. It is a shame as I liked the Precision Optimizer profiles, but I can redownload it later if I want it back.

*edit: I've since uninstalled all of that and their respective services are now gone too. The only dell service that remains is DellRctlService, whatever that is, but I've disabled it from starting automatically.

 

I did a clean install and have the DellRctlService running. The only one of these programs i installed was Dell Command Update. Not sure if it has to do with that.

Out if curiosity, if you were doing a clean install and not running RAID, why would you not switch to AHCI?

 

Hi, thanks Mike. I uninstalled Dell Command Update and service DellRctlService remains. I've disabled the service but unsure what it is related to.

The way I understand it, these PCIe NVMe m.2 drives benefit (in some way, but I don't know) from Intel RST, which is available only if the RAID instead of AHCI is enabled in BIOS . Even if not actually using a drive array such as RAID 1 or 0.

http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN300184/en

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/7710-performance-problems.787109/page-2#post-10192323

http://download.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/irst_user_guide.pdf
*section 3 explains BIOS should say RAID to install and use Intel RST

 

Thanks. I thought I read elsewhere to put in AHCI mode instead of RAID and also, you need AHCI to use the Samsung Driver for the 950. I could be mistaken on these. So many posts and rushing to get it setup, I went with the AHCI.

I also did not bother installing IRST since I figured without RAID it is not needed (again, I could be wrong).

Now I wonder if I should redo it all. I will probably leave it be for now.

thanks,

 

Likewise, I'm not sure either. I could be misinterpreting. I may have been confusing Intel Rapid Storage Tech with Intel Rapid Start Tech. I have Intel Rapid Storage Tech, which I think is meant for SSD management (as it's name suggests), but I'm not really using the tool since I don't have a RAID array... while Rapid Start Tech has to do with waking from sleep mode (or something like that).

As long as we have fast and stable systems, I'm going to leave mine as it is too

 

found this to switch from RAID to AHCI and get windows to work.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/trying-ahci-mode-xps-15-9550.785081/#post-10153330

I might try on the drive that came with the system and i am not using.

I guess it all depends which driver one wants to use for the NVMe drive. I am using the samsung driver and I think I have to be in AHCI to do that. If i was in RAID, i think the NVMe driver will have to be the IRST. I have read that the Samsung Driver will not install if bios is set to RAID.

 

yeah, and I think I've read that the OEM Samsung NVMe drives (SM951 and PM951, which are what I'm using) may not be okay using Samsung NVMe drivers as the Samsung drivers were really meant for the PM950 Pro (non OEM).